Still in Idaho

Lately, we've been:

1) Boating/fishing with our new friends, Dell and Carla. 3 consecutive days. I wore a baseball cap on each of those days. A first for me, hooray!

2) Taking care of my parents' house/property/animals while they're in Rome.

3) Exercising the H out of the dogs so they'll stop being so crazy towards each other.

4) Facilitating inter-species playtime.

(That is an airborn cat)

(This too)

(ow)

(ow)

(ow)

5) Introducing nieces to horses.

6) Fox-watching.

We are now days away from leaving for New York, directly followed by leaving the country for two years, so please don't panic if I don't manage to post between now and WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY ON THE ISLAND. I'll post as soon as I can once we're set up there. Don't even worry about it.

puppy love

Jon's brother Darcy and his wife Lianna stayed a night at my parent's house on their way up to Canada a couple of weeks ago to split their 12+ hour trip from Boise into two days. Penny could not have been more thrilled about it.

Pearl was tolerant enough, though she didn't appreciate the frequent face-washings.

In this one, Penny is clearly telling Lianna, "Thank you for bringing me this tiny human".

At one point, after Pearl had been put down for the night, Penny took advantage of the partially-cracked door and disappeared into the darkness of the spare bedroom. It took a full minute of me whisper-screaming her name from the hallway before she came slinking out, disappointed.

Ps- This picture of Jon and Pearl makes me happy.

I really saw this.

...with my own eyes. Too bad my phone takes tiny thumbnail photos. This woman was a hairdresser (a hairdresser!!) at my mom's salon, and I kid you not, as I sat there watching her with my mouth gaping open, she began teasing this hair. I mean, obviously I knew that's how it got to be so terrible in the first place, but to see it happening right in front of me was truly spectacular. Thank you, Idaho, for moments like this!

Did I mention I saw a baby giraffe?

Jon and I drove to Heber this weekend to spend a couple days with my sister Annie and her husband Steve. They both had the day off yesterday so we went to the Hogle zoo and saw a BABY GIRAFFE! I almost hopped the fence to wrap myself five times around its cute little baby giraffe neck. Five times. That's how huggable it was.

Here it is nursing. What could possibly be sweeter than a baby giraffe nursing? Hardly anything. That's what.

Now you see me...

Now you don't.

It was only twelve days old! Some guy standing behind us read aloud its birthday off a sign, then remarked "Only 2 weeks old! Wow, they get big QUICK!" I wonder how small he thinks baby giraffes are when they're born. Perhaps gerbil-sized?

Okay, enough about the baby giraffe already. Just kidding! There's more! Here it is drinking out of the giraffe water contraption:

And here it is with its mama:

And here's a video of it:

And here I am hugging it, and here I am feeding it, and here I am riding it, and here it is in the back of the Mazda......

And here's a picture of me and Jon at the zoo; Not because it has anything to do with baby giraffes, just because it's a cute picture. The end.

Canada!

Finally. Our trip to Canada. Last week we were able to spend several days with Jon's entire family in Alberta one last time before we leave the country. We camped in Waterton Lakes National Park for the first part of the week, then spent a few days at Jon's parents' house in Lethbridge for the remainder of our time there. Apostrophes are the best.

Pearl, just hanging out in a camping chair.

Pearl, just sharpening her teeth on a stick.

Jon reading to Norah.

Waterton Lake. Jealous?

Jon skipping rocks. He could go pro.

Left to right: Glen, Darcy (and Pearl), Jon

Aaaand the cake we got for Kelsey and Shauna: Happy Birtday, indeed.

I ended up driving home with Jake and Kelsey while Jon stayed an extra two days. All things considered, it was a great trip.

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It's important that you know that on our way back to the US, maybe an hour outside of Lethbridge, we saw what at first appeared to be two big dogs crossing the highway in front of us. It wasn't until we got closer that we realized it was a yellow lab and a huge black pig, side by side, making a break for it. That has never happened.

my sister gave birth to a human being

Her name is Ada.

(Kyle's blog)

There's always next year!

I'm working on a Canada recap post, but this just happened and I have to write about it. Penny had a haircut today in Idaho Falls, and on our way back my mom stopped in Rexburg at the college for a few minutes. Since we had Penny with us, I took her out of the car and we sat under a shade tree to wait. Meanwhile, EFY students came spilling out of the building across the way, apparently for a break between classes. A group of two girls and two boys cut across the lawn and passed right by us; The girls disintegrated into squeals of delight when they saw Penny and they all came over to give her a pat. Afterwards, as his friends turned away and set off again across the lawn, one of the boys (no older than 14) said to me in a tone of amazement mingled with disappointment, "I didn't know we were allowed to bring dogs!"

So I was all, "Technically we're not supposed to, but my dad made some calls."

Just kiddding, I didn't say that. But I wish I had. :-(

Texting, Episode V

I know, I know, I should be updating about our trip to Canada and all considering I've been home since Sunday, but Jon stayed a couple of extra days and he's got the camera, so you'll just have to deal with another one of THESE in the meantime.

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So [my husband's] coworker saw a cat in a Baby Bjorn. And it's the best thing I've ever heard. Ever.

Just had a kosher eggroll with pastrami in it. Pastrami! Do you see what I have to deal with??

[My baby] eats the toilet paper roll so I put it on the sink out of reach. ...Sure wish I could reach the toilet paper right about now :/

Majorly freaking out. We found a bedbug in our living room last night. I cannot deal with those again.

And no picture. She was right up against the placenta, licking it.

Ya that's gay. And it turns out I'm retarded.

We are at the most ghetto Mexican diner right now. I'm going to get swine flu just being here.

[My husband] just stalked/followed me around the house imitating Scott the blind guy from Idol. His eyes and mouth lolling. We're gonna burn...oh no.

Really nice. A weird cat lady in shlubby clothes. Cats on her license plate, etc. She's hardcore.

Stop counting fat kids already.

I saw a Boston terrier at the pet store today and almost wanted to buy it/steal it in my bra.

Are you using your AOL email account now? Check out what I just sent you. The baby to the far right and then the same one a few pics down. I can't stop laughing.

[two minutes later] Seriously. Cannot stop.

[seven minutes later] I feel bad now. Apparently he was a miracle baby. I'm going to hell.